A tense exchange erupted during a live programme on Arise News when presenter Adesuwa Omoruan cited figures reportedly obtained from the National Orientation Agency (NOA) regarding conflict-related deaths recorded under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
During the interview, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain questioned the credibility and authority of the agency to provide such data. However, the presenter countered that similar figures are also available through international monitoring and conflict-tracking research platforms.
The APC representative further argued that the number of terrorists allegedly killed under the current administration surpasses the number of Nigerians abducted or killed within the same period. When pressed to provide evidence for the claim, he responded, “Trust me.”
The discussion escalated as the host presented comparative figures, stating that conflict-related deaths recorded under the current administration are higher than those recorded under previous governments.
According to the analysis referenced during the programme, the current administration has recorded approximately twice the number of conflict-related deaths attributed to the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan and about 10,000 more than those recorded under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The exchange has since generated public debate online, with viewers divided over the interpretation and reliability of the statistics presented during the broadcast.